How far in advance should you send save the dates?

Six to eight months before the wedding, or nine to twelve months before for destination weddings and holiday weekends.

When should wedding invitations be sent?

Six to eight weeks before the wedding. Send them a little earlier, around eight to ten weeks, if you did not send save the dates.

When should the RSVP deadline be?

Three to four weeks before the wedding, which leaves time to chase missing replies before your caterer needs final numbers.

Can you send a save the date to someone and then not invite them?

No. A save the date is a promise of an invitation, so send them only to guests you are certain to invite.

When to Send Save the Dates & Wedding Invitations (Timeline)

The Quick Timeline

9–12 months before: finalise your guest list and venue so you know the date is fixed.
6–8 months before: send save the dates (9–12 months for destination weddings or holiday weekends).
3–4 months before: finalise invitation wording and order or print your invitations.
6–8 weeks before: send the invitations.
3–4 weeks before: RSVP deadline.
1–2 weeks before: chase missing replies and confirm final numbers with your venue.

Do You Need Save the Dates at All?

Save the dates are optional, but they are worth sending if any of these apply:

Guests need to travel, book flights or arrange accommodation.
Your wedding falls on a holiday weekend or during a busy summer month.
You are planning a destination wedding.
You have a long engagement and want guests to lock in the date early.

For a small, local wedding with a short engagement, you can skip save the dates and simply send invitations a little earlier, around 8 to 10 weeks ahead.

What to Include on a Save the Date

A save the date is an announcement, not the invitation, so keep it short:

Your names.
The date.
The town or city (the full venue is optional at this stage).
A line such as “Formal invitation to follow”.
Your wedding website, if you have one.

Only send save the dates to people you are certain to invite. Anyone who receives one will expect an invitation.

Why 6 to 8 Weeks for Invitations?

Six to eight weeks gives guests time to arrange childcare, time off and travel, while being close enough to the day that the invitation does not get forgotten. Sending much earlier than this tends to produce slower RSVPs, because the date feels far away.

Setting the RSVP Deadline

Most caterers and venues need final numbers one to two weeks before the wedding. Setting your RSVP date 3 to 4 weeks out leaves a buffer to follow up with guests who have not replied and to finalise seating plans.

Digital or Printed?

Many couples now send digital save the dates by email or messaging apps and keep printed cards for the formal invitation. Both approaches are perfectly acceptable. On rosythepigeon, each card can be downloaded as a PNG for sharing digitally or as a print-ready PDF, so you can use the same design for both.

When to Send Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations: A Complete Timeline